First-time authors find favour on Orange longlist

Debut novelists make a strong showing once more in this year's Orange prize longlist, announced today, squeezing out two much-praised novels by established authors.

Seven of the 20 books which make the list are by first-time authors, with Anita Amirrezvani, Sadie Jones, Lauren Liebenberg, Heather O'Neill, Dalia Sofer, Carol Topolski and Patricia Wood nominated for debut novels.

The broadcaster Kirsty Lang, this year's chair of the judges, suggested that the list struck a good balance between first novels and writers who "haven't perhaps had the recognition they deserved."

"There were lots of big names in contention this year and stiff competition for places," she said, "so we were surprised and excited to find so many new voices that fought their way through."

The other contenders include novels by some of the most celebrated women writers in English, including the 2000 Orange winner Linda Grant, for The Clothes on Their Backs; and Anne Enright, whose surprise Booker winner The Gathering also makes the list. Novels by Rose Tremain, Stella Duffy, Tessa Hadley and Deborah Moggach are also in contention.

The omissions from the list that will raise eyebrows are AL Kennedy and Nicola Barker. Kennedy's novel Day won wide praise before winning the 2007 Costa prize, and Barker's Darkmans was considered a frontrunner among the novels shortlisted for last year's Booker.

Any woman writing in English is eligible for the prize, and this year's selection includes, along with nine British novelists, authors from America, Australia, Ireland, South Africa and Canada and one American-Iranian. For the first time, the list also includes a Turkish novelist, Elif Shafak, for The Bastard of Istanbul.

Now in its 13th year, the prize celebrates "excellence, originality and accessibility in women's writing". The search for accessibility this year caused a minor stir when the pop star Lily Allen was appointed to the judging panel alongside the Guardian Review editor Lisa Allardice, and the novelists Philippa Gregory and Bel Mooney.

Last year's winner was Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for Half of a Yellow Sun. After the announcement of the shortlist on April 15, this year's prize of £30,000 will be presented at a ceremony in London's Royal Festival Hall on June 4.

The longlist in full

Anita Amirrezvani The Blood of FlowersStella Duffy The Room of Lost ThingsJennifer Egan The KeepAnne Enright The GatheringLinda Grant The Clothes on Their BacksTessa Hadley The Master BedroomNancy Huston Fault LinesGail Jones SorrySadie Jones The OutcastLauren Liebenberg The Voluptuous Delights of Peanut Butter and JamCharlotte Mendelson When We Were BadDeborah Moggach In The DarkAnita Nair MistressHeather O'Neill Lullabies for Little CriminalsElif Shafak The Bastard of IstanbulDalia Sofer The Septembers of ShirazScarlett Thomas The End of Mr YCarol Topolski Monster LoveRose Tremain The Road HomePatricia Wood Lottery